You're a Med Student, so Now What?

Abstract

This reflection chapter is from the perspective of the first-year medical student: teetering the line between the naïveté of embarking into an ambiguous future and the wisdom developing in the midst of self discovery. From the early moments of dissecting in the anatomy lab to making decisions about which content to study further during spare time, the first year of medical school sets the stage for collecting signs and symptoms into a diagnosis and a plan. This lens extends into steps for self-reflection: outline values and current needs (akin to taking your own history); reflect on interests and skills (identifying signs); consider the roles of a physician in society (coming up with a differential for who you might become); identify opportunities for the future (crafting an action plan); seek out connections with other students, trainees, and physicians (assembling a team). In this way, students can be encouraged to take a moment to center themselves in the way they will for the patients under their care to make sense of it all.